Cancer doctor indicted for poisoning coffee of lover

Dr. Ana Maria Gonzalez-Angulo, the cancer doctor accused of poisoning the coffee of a colleague, was indicted Thursday on a felony charge of aggravated assault by a Harris County grand jury.

A breast cancer oncologist at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Gonzalez-Angulo was charged in late May with poisoning Dr. George Blumenschein, a specialist in lung and head and neck cancers at the institution.

According to the initial complaint, the pair were in "a casual sexual relationship" when Gonzalez-Angulo gave Blumenschein not just one cup of poisoned coffee but two.

Sixteen hours later he was taken to an emergency center, where he was found to have central nervous system depression, cardiopulmonary complications and renal failure. He subsequently had to undergo dialysis.

"We feel very strongly that she's innocent, and we trust that a jury will agree with us," said Derek Hollingsworth, the lawyer representing Gonzalez-Angulo.

Prosecutors in the case were unavailable for comment.

Blumenschein has since returned to work; Gonzalez-Angulo was placed on paid administrative leave by M.D. Anderson. Hollingsworth said she has been continuing her research, as best she can, from home.

In the formal complaint, a University of Texas at Houston police officer states that the incident occurred Jan. 27 at Gonzalez-Angulo's residence in the city of Southside Place, near West University Place.

According to the charges, when Blumenschein complained his coffee tasted sweet, Gonzalez-Angulo told him she'd added Splenda and instructed him to finish it, after which she made him another cup. Blumenschein said both tasted sweet.

Within four hours, he began experiencing slurred speech, poor balance and loss of fine motor skills.

A 24-hour urine test found crystals consistent with ethylene glycol poisoning, according to the complaint. It also said a county toxicologist concurred with the assessment, noting that by the time Blumenschein was assessed, any ethylene glycol itself would not be present because it would have been metabolized.

A toxicology report by a third expert indicated that Blumenschein's acute severe metabolic acidosis "more likely than not" was due to ethylene glycol poisoning.

"The statements that are made in the complaint will be hotly and vigorously contested at a trial," Hollingsworth said.